Pete Buttigieg is a father! The 39-year-old politician, who currently serves as President Joe Biden‘s Transportation Secretary, announced via Twitter on Tuesday (Aug. 17) that he and husband Chasten Glezman Buttigieg, 32, have become parents. “For some time, Chasten and I have wanted to grow our family. We’re overjoyed to share that we’ve become parents!” Pete wrote. “The process isn’t done yet and we’re thankful for the love, support, and respect for our privacy that has been offered to us. We can’t wait to share more soon.”
Chasten also shared the exciting announcement on Instagram, writing, “Some news!” with a baby bottle emoji alongside Pete’s message. The pair received a flurry of congratulatory messages on social media about the big news from folks like Meghan McCain, Joe Walsh, Sophia Bush, and more.
For some time, Chasten and I have wanted to grow our family. We’re overjoyed to share that we’ve become parents! The process isn’t done yet and we’re thankful for the love, support, and respect for our privacy that has been offered to us. We can’t wait to share more soon.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) August 17, 2021
Pete, who is the first openly gay Cabinet secretary in U.S. history, has been married to his writer husband since June 2018. Last year, Chasten told USA Today that the couple had started exploring the possibility of expanding their family. “We have quite a few friends in our circle who’ve navigated that, so we’ve just been having a lot of conversations with friends and started trying to figure out what will work for us,” Chasten said.
Chasten then told The Washington Post in July 2021 that he and Pete had begun the adoption process and nearly welcomed a child into their home, but the birth mother ended up changing her mind. “It’s a really weird cycle of anger and frustration and hope,” Chasten told the publication of the adoption process. “You think it’s finally happening and you get so excited, and then it’s gone.”
Chasten has been a major support system for Pete throughout his political career. Pete is a Rhodes Scholar and Afghanistan war veteran who became mayor of South Bend, Indiana in 2012. He helped take South Bend to new heights, but decided not to seek a third term as mayor and instead jumped into the Democratic 2020 presidential primary. He performed decently well in the race at first, but after lagging in the polls and placing fourth in the South Carolina primary, he ultimately suspended his campaign to throw his support behind eventually winner Biden, 78.
In Feb. 2021, Pete was named Biden’s transportation secretary. Shortly after his confirmation, Pete tweeted: “I’m honored and humbled by today’s vote in the Senate—and ready to get to work @USDOT.”